Six weeks of the college football season are complete, and that means we’re starting to see separation among some of the pretenders (Clemson) and contenders (Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M). What we thought we knew at the beginning of the season was fantasy. Now we are dealing with reality, not only across the country, but in the Big Ten as well. Each week lets us know a little more about where things stand.
Now that we’ve had a few weeks to assess what’s going on in the conference, we feel like we have a pretty good handle on what teams are playing well — maybe as we expected — and which ones might be in for a long, long season. We’re even starting to have some surprise teams emerge (hello, Indiana once again).
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So, we share with you our weekly Big Ten football power rankings. After another scintillating week, it still looks like Ohio State and Indiana are the class of the league, but teams like Oregon, Washington, Iowa, and USC may still have something to say about which teams make it to Indianapolis.
Here’s a look at our Big Ten power rankings after Week 8. We start from No. 18 and make our way down to No. 1 as usual.
Aug 28, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Danny O’Neil (18) hands the football off to running back Darrion Dupree (6) during the fourth quarter against the Miami (OH) RedHawks at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Lost 34-0 vs. Ohio State
Last Week Ranking: 18 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: at Oregon
What goes into the ranking
Wisconsin has now failed to score any points in two straight games, and I once read somewhere that it’s hard to win games if you can’t score. Sure, there are a lot of injuries, but the Badgers are spiraling out of control fast.
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No. 17 – Purdue Boilermakers (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten)
Aug 30, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers linebacker Alex Sanford Jr. (10) celibates a sack during the second half against the Ball State Cardinals at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Lost 19-0 at Northwestern
Last Week Ranking: 17 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: vs. Rutgers
What goes into the ranking
Just when we thought Purdue was ready to Pur-did, it Pur-didn’t once again and looked totally inept on offense against Northwestern. It’s hard to know where a win comes from for the Boilermakers.
Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts during the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Last Game Result: Lost 25-24 at Iowa
Last Week Ranking: 16 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Penn State probably should have beaten Iowa in Iowa City, but fell just a wee bit short after looking like it was on the way to a win. If you’ve followed this site much, you know we don’t give credit for losses, no matter how close, so the Nittany Lions stay right here.
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Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles (2) throws against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Lost 38-13 at Indiana
Last Week Ranking: 15 ⇔ (No change)
Next Game: vs. Michigan
What goes into the ranking
The Spartans looked interested in giving Indiana a game for a half, but then they realized they are still Michigan State and kind of fell apart in the second half. This team is better than last year, but there’s still a big gap in talent to climb in the pecking order.
No. 14 – Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten)
Rutgers Head Coach, Greg Schiano watches his Scarlet Knights, Thursday, August 28, 2025.
Last Week’s Result: Lost 56-10 vs. Oregon
Last Week Ranking: 14 ⇔ (No change)
Next Game: at Purdue
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What goes into the ranking
It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day for Rutgers in an embarrassing loss to Oregon, but I think it has more to do with how good the Ducks are vs. how bad the Scarlet Knights are. There’s a big three in the Big Ten right now, then everyone else.
No. 13 – Northwestern Wildcats (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten)
Aug 30, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Preston Stone (8) passes against Tulane Green Wave during the second half at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Last Game Result: Won 19-0 vs. Purdue
Last Week Ranking: 13 ⇔ (No change)
Next Game: at Nebraska
What goes into the ranking
Northwestern has quietly made a move and sits at 3-1 in the conference. That looks good on the surface until you realize all three wins have come against teams with losing records. Still, progress appears to have been made since the start of the season.
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No. 12 – Maryland Terrapins (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten)
Aug 30, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins players are introduced before a game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Lost 20-17 at UCLA
Last Week Ranking: 11 ⇩ (down one spot)
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Just when we thought Maryland was going to do better things once inside conference play this year, it has now lost three straight one-score games in the Big Ten. Expectations have been reset toward bowl eligibility at this point, and that’s far from a given.
No. 11 – UCLA Bruins (3-4, 3-1 Big Ten)
Aug 30, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) following the loss against the Utah Utes during the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Won 20-17 vs. Maryland
Last Week Ranking: 12 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at Indiana
What goes into the ranking
UCLA has to be the most improved team in the league since the beginning of the season, having rattled off three straight wins now. The overall record is still a losing one, but there aren’t many teams that want to play the Bruins and quarterback Nico Iamaleava right now.
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Sep 6, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) runs against the Akron Zips during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Lost 24-6 at Minnesota
Last Week Ranking: 5 ⇩ (down five spots)
Next Game: vs. Northwestern
What goes into the ranking
That sound you heard was the Cornhuskers crashing back to Earth after a bad loss at the hands of Minnesota. If you want to be a contender in the Big Ten, you don’t let the Golden Gophers give you a super wedgie.
No. 9 – Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten)
Nov 30, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck leads the Minnesota Golden Gophers onto the field before a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Last Week’s Result: Won 24-6 vs. Nebraska
Last Week Ranking: 10 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at Iowa
What goes into the ranking
Well, look here. Minnesota is again doing Minnesota-type things under P.J. Fleck — just finding ways to win. The Golden Gophers aren’t going to contend with the big boys of the league, but they should have a great chance to go to a decent bowl game.
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No. 8 – Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten)
Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) lines up under center against the Albany Great Danes Aug. 30, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Last Week’s Result: Won 25-24 vs. Penn State
Last Week Ranking: 9 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: vs. Minnesota
What goes into the ranking
The Hawkeyes seem to be playing better, but it’s hard to know with the teams they are beating. Wisconsin is a greasy mess, and Penn State is now “We are?” But hey, Iowa is right there, ready to hang in there and make things interesting down the stretch, maybe.
Sep 27, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright (7) runs for yards after the catch against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Last Game Result: Lost 24-7 at Michigan
Last Week Ranking: 4 ⇩ (down three spots)
Next Game: vs. Illinois
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What goes into the ranking
Washington’s offense made far too many mistakes on the road to have a real shot at beating Michigan. This is still a pretty good team, but it looks like it’ll go as far as quarterback Demond Williams Jr. will take it.
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) makes a pass against running back Justice Haynes (22) against New Mexico during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Last Week’s Result: Won 24-7 vs. Washington
Last Week Ranking: 7 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at Michigan State
What goes into the ranking
I’m not really sure Michigan belongs here, but you can pretty much mix and match spots four through eight, and I’m sure it’ll change more than a politician’s opinion over the next few weeks. These are power rankings, and the Wolverines looked much better against a good Washington team, so it might be what have you done for me lately through this part of the power rankings.
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No. 5 – USC Trojans (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten)
Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) talks with Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Last Game Result: Lost 34-24 at Notre Dame
Last Week Ranking: 6 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
USC took it on the chin on the road against Notre Dame, but we can’t ignore the way the Trojans dominated Michigan just a week ago. Results have to matter, especially that recent, so with the other outcomes and where teams slot, USC has to go above the Wolverines — at least for now.
No. 4 – Illinois Fighting Illini (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten)
Aug 29, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) jumps on teammate Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman Eli Coenen (96) after a sack on Western Illinois Leathernecks quarterback Chris Irvin (5) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 7 ⇧ (up three spots)
Next Game: at Washington
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What goes into the ranking
The Illini might not deserve to be here, but it’s hard to tell. The only losses are to arguably the two best teams in the Big Ten. The issue is that neither game was close, so we’ll have to see if the gap is really that big. Playing at Washington should give us a better idea.
No. 3 – Oregon Ducks (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten)
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore carries the ball as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers Sept. 20, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
Last Week’s Result: Won 56-10 at Rutgers
Last Week Ranking: 2 ⇩ (down one spot)
Next Game: vs. Wisconsin
What goes into the ranking
Oregon is still a very dangerous team and will still have every opportunity to make the College Football Playoff. The Ducks will have to root for someone to knock off the Buckeyes and Hoosiers, though, to get to Indy and defend their Big Ten title.
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No. 2 – Indiana Hoosiers (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)
Sep 20, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti watches his team during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Won 38-13 vs. Michigan State
Last Week Ranking: 3 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: vs. UCLA
What goes into the ranking
Indiana had a little trouble with Michigan State in the first half, but you can probably chalk that up to a hangover from a huge win at Oregon. In fact, the Hoosiers pulled away in the second half, and it’s hard to see them losing from here on out in the regular season.
Sep 13, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) reacts after the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Last Game Result: Won 34-0 at Wisconsin
Last Week Ranking: 1 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: Off
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What went into the ranking
Ohio State still looks like the most complete team in the country. All things being equal in a matchup game, that defense can be the great equalizer against anyone and might be the difference in a tight game when it matters most. And yeah, the offense is going to continue to get better, even though it is pretty good already.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten power rankings after Week 8: Ohio State or Indiana on top?
